IIC Student Spotlight- Samantha Koch

IIC Student Spotlight

Samantha Koch

RPCV Mozambique, 2011-2013

1) What undergraduate college did you attend? Where?

The University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa

2) What was your undergraduate focus?

Major: Geography
Minor: Spanish

3) How did you become interested in the IIC Program?

I fell madly in love with a class during my undergrad, "Intercultural Perspectives," and I asked the professor if she knew of any graduate programs of a similar subject matter with which I could blend my interest in public health.  She gave me a list of grad programs and after a little research, I realized that DU's IIC program was the best fit. 

4) What is your favorite place where you've traveled/lived so far?

In the States: Washington D.C.  I interned at Peace Corps Headquarters for three months in 2010, and my 21-year-old self thought I could live out my yuppie years here.  I greatly appreciated the cosmopolitanism, the near absence of political apathy, as well as the eclectic culture, activities and people.  I actually cried the night before I flew back to Iowa to finish my bachelor's.

Out of the States: Mozambique.  Never before have I met such nurturing and hospitable people, eaten outstandingly flavorful food from the simplest ingredients, or taken in the beauty of vast, white sandy beaches.  

Continuing to travel is a major dream of mine.

5) Do you have a dream job? What?

I suppose I always imagined myself working in Behavior Change Communications (BCC) for an organization like Population Services International (PSI), since behavior change and reproductive health have been my focus for the last few years.  Honestly, I'm open.

6) What is your favorite part about the IIC program thus far?

I've been so fortunate to have an intelligent, diverse and friendly cohort and faculty.  I'm also excited about next quarter's classes. 

7) Anything else you would like to share?

I finished my Peace Corps Service in late July and returned to the States mid-August.  Returning from ex-patriot life comes with a readjustment process and potentially some challenges.  Thus far, I've eased back into life in the states.  I've discovered how life has changed here (especially in a technological sense), and I'm still discovering how I have changed.  Overall, it's been fairly easy to get back into the swing of life here even though all I can think about is where I'll go next.  

International Communication course blog

Hello IIC Community!  The following blog is from the Fall 2013 quarter's International Communication course (required for those of you who may be considering the program).  This is one of the many stimulating topics we discussed this quarter and there's more to come.  Enjoy.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

To Hell With Good Intentions

In response to our recent class topics and discussions about natural disasters and the communication theories that tie in to them, I remembered an address I had read given by author Ivan Illich to the Conference of InterAmerican Student Projects (CIASP) in Mexico in 1968. His audience is made up of potential volunteers for the organization, and takes place in a decade where young people of affluent families participated in what Illich refers to as “mission vacations.” To the students, his declarations were direct and concise. To me, they were extremely thought provoking, and more importantly, still relevant.

“The road to hell is paved with good intentions,” is a proverb believed to be coined by 12^th century French abbot Bernard of Clairvaux. Clairvaux was informing his congregation that it is still possible to sin even if you are acting in good faith. Illich re-conveys this idea to the students in attendance, along with his no-holds bar statement of their pending hypocrisy if they choose to continue with their missions.

Illich tells the crowd;

“[he] does not doubt the enormous good will of the U.S. volunteer, however, his good faith can usually be explained only by an abysmal lack of intuitive delicacy. By definition, you cannot help being ultimately a vacationing salesman for the middle-class ‘American way of life’ since that is really the only way of life you know.”

This quote is representative of modernization theory, and is an example of discourse of the dominant paradigm. Illich is supporting the idea that the West, or the U.S. specifically, assumes that the western model is applicable elsewhere, and is important to “development.” It also refers to the thought that rationality and progress are synonymous with economic growth. So, in order to ‘develop’ your specific country or region, one must follow the western model of modernization. This thought is reinforced by the idea that economic growth, which will be achieved if the western model is applied, proves societal rationale and progress.

He then informs the student audience that simply the existence of organizations such as theirs is offensive to Mexicans. This is a good example of our (American, Western) egocentric nature, the concepts of our self-identity and the “other,” and how we use these things to establish our superiority, and consequently, generate more knowledge about us. The peoples that we are intending to aid/develop/assist end up becoming props that reinforce our idea of self, and how we view ourselves. We see these selfless endeavors as living proof of our supreme generosity, our innate humanitarianism shining through. But in all reality, this is just another example of how we use our position to further our own agenda, and leave those that we are supposed to be “helping” even farther behind. Because ultimately, helping relationships are power relationships.  Mexico, or other developing countries for that matter, are unable to pay us back in kind, so the depth of the leverage we hold over them continues to deepen. I believe this is in part what Illich was referring to as “an abysmal lack of intuitive delicacy.”

I had often contemplated the lasting effects for the country and/or region once we vacate our missions or volunteer cites. But, being from middle/working class America, I lack the foresight to predict such things. This speech was the first time I had the opportunity to be exposed to such an account:

All you will do in a Mexican village is create disorder. At best, you can try to convince Mexican girls that they should marry a young man who is self-made, rich, a consumer, and as disrespectful of tradition as one of you. At worst, in your "community development" spirit you might create just enough problems to get someone shot after your vacation ends_ and you rush back to your middleclass neighborhoods where your friends make jokes about "spits" and "wetbacks."

The next point made prompts me to consider the underlying initiative for our actions. In our multitude of organizations, we spend considerable amounts of money training the volunteers that we have to be able to assimilate to the culture, and withstand the culture shock that typically ensues. But, Illich points out how odd it is that no one has ever thought about investing time and money into educating the Mexicans or other indigenous peoples we encounter in order to prevent them from suffering from the culture shock from us. His idea was simple, and logic, profound.

Illich ends his speech with a reiteration to the audience to please, abandon their plans to volunteer. He doesn’t endorse giving up all hopes for humanitarian efforts, but to focus their “good-deeds” on their homeland, which during the 60’s, was not lacking for economic, social or political discourse.

I want to leave you with the thought that although I find Illich’s argument fascinating, I am in no way saying I do not support global humanitarian efforts. The different programs that exist today have made monumental steps toward mutual respect, understanding, and ultimately peace among nations. But, I do fear unexamined humanitarianism. Because no matter how noble our intentions may be, that road is paved with them.

Written by Chelsi Hudson

IIC Student Spotlight

LeeAnn Schmerber- 1st year IIC Student

1) What undergraduate college did you attend? Where?

Elon University in North Carolina 

2) What was your undergraduate focus?

Major in International Studies, Minor in Communications

3) How did you become interested in the IIC Program?

I always knew that I wanted to get a Masters, it was just a matter of picking the right time and the right school.  I'd moved around a bit after college and over the past few years decided I wanted to make Denver home, at least for a while.  The jobs that I had weren't putting me in direction that I wanted career wise, and DU offered a program that fit what I was looking for.   So it seemed that the timing and place were perfect.

5) What is your favorite place where you've traveled/lived so far?

I've never really been anywhere I did not like and have a ton of favorite places, all for different reasons.  Right now, I'll go with Iceland -  the geology is fascinating - I went snorkeling in a fissure between the North American and European plates, the water was crystal clear.  It was beautiful.  

 

6) Do you have a dream job? What?

Study Abroad Adviser 

7) What is your favorite part about the IIC program thus far (i.e. favorite class)?

What I think I've found most interesting is that I'm taking two very different courses (International Communications and Major Issues in International Security - in Korbel) and the content of the courses has merged a few times throughout the quarter, especially at the end.  It's interesting to read different perspectives on similar issues.  I feel like the quarter has come full circle.

8) Anything else you would like to share?

I'm just really happy that I made this decision.  I quit a full time job (with a career path, albeit one that I did not want) to become a full time student.  Even though it was a career path that I wasn't passionate about, it was security.  The decision to come back to school was hard but as I mentioned above, the timing and place were right.  I knew that this was the best opportunity to find the career that I really wanted.

IIC Orientation

IIC Orientation 2013

It was a bright and sunny Saturday afternoon in Denver, with the smell of fresh cut grass wafting in the air, when the 2013-2014 International and Intercultural Communication (IIC) students, faculty, and staff gathered for orientation.  The students congregated at the University of Denver’s air-conditioned International House and sat in a circle of comfortable sofas and chairs as they introduced themselves to their peers.  Each student present gave a short description of his or her exceptional accomplishments and interests, and each student emoted anticipation for what is to come this academic year.  The intimate orientation, facilitated by Margie Thompson and Kate Burns, featured an overview of the IIC program as well as appearances by department faculty members and the Dean of the Arts and Humanities and Social Sciences. 

To kick-off the learning process, the IIC students participated in a cultural exercise, which featured a real and current development issue in Costa Rica that is close to Margaret Thompson’s heart.  The activity dealt with development, land rights, and finding common ground between stakeholders.  In groups of three, the students worked to analyze and create solutions via the perspectives of various stakeholders in the issue.  The activity necessitated the focus, participation and expertise of each IIC student and created a sense of teamwork.  Overall, the findings were creative, thoughtful, and overlapping.

The exercise focused on current tensions along the southern Carribbean coast of Costa Rica with historic land rights and mega tourism “development”:

“A growing number of people in the coastal communities fear that their small paradise in the southern Caribbean is being severely threatened by the current government, land speculators, transnational mining and oil interests and mega tourism developers.  Although 90% of the land in the Talamanca region is within some kind of wildlife or indigenous reserve, manipulation is taking place behind the scenes, designed to create confusion and pass laws in the name of ‘protection’ that would weaken or even eliminate historical land rights of coastal villages.”

Student groups represented the following stake holder groups:

Afro Costa Ricans, ICT (National Costa Rican Tourism Institute), Foro Caribe Sur (community forum), Talamanca Chamber of Tourism, small entrepreneurs, and environmentalists)

Each of the stakeholders named concerns for building capital, protecting the environment, and maintaining local support and culture.  Below is a summary of their analyses:

1)      Afro Costa Ricans

-Needs/concerns:  job scarcity; no proper land titles; vulnerable eco-tourism/paradise and heritage; subject to discrimination and racism

-Potential solutions:

Establish guidelines for accessing land titles; having more afro costa rican representation within the government; Work with locals to establish alternative tourism

Hold cultural heritage celebrations; have more legal representation/create more voice for locals

2)      The ICT (National Costa Rican Tourism Institute)

-Needs/concerns: Money, community support, favorable laws

-Potential solutions: Donating a portion of profits to health and education efforts; involving local (and claimants); providing jobs (education and health)

-Developing advisory board; establishing community funds; developing business cooperative company

3)      The Foro Caribe Sur

-Needs/Concerns: Funding for health, education and tourism promotion (not large corp. development project); maintain current laws and land rights; maintain integrity of land-environmental issues

Potential solutions:

-Small scale tourism development projects (avoid cruise ships, etc.); education on laws/land rights to avoid manipulation; laws/plans to distribute tourism revenue for education, health, etc.

-More emphasis on locals in terms of health and education; better communication with community members; locals gaining pride/ownership in their community

4)      The Talamanca Chamber of Tourism

Needs/concerns: Make money and economic improvement; control development as opposed to outside control; maintain community ownership

Potential solutions:

-Physically limit development for purpose of protecting land rights and environment as well as maintain ecotourism; hire locally; smear campaign against outside development

-Provide employment for community members and entrepreneurs in the community; develop ecotourism destinations that incorporate wildlife refuges; plan cultural festivals to celebrate local culture

5)      Small entrepreneurs

Needs/concerns: Maintain profits and competitive edge; maintain the integrity of the environment to continue their eco-tourism industry; maintain special access for local businesses (taxes, permits, etc.)

Potential solutions:

-Establish a chamber of commerce/coalition that represents the interests and needs of already established and/or new locally owned businesses; establish an environmental council that is part of the decision-making process in regards to environmental protection from extractive industries; establish an “eco-tax” on corporations or businesses that have an environmental impact that goes back to preservation

-See “eco-tax”; mapping of the community to demonstrate the different areas/businesses/industries; establish a traditional authority to represent the costa rican cultural groups.

6)      Environmentalists

Needs/concerns: Legal protection; sustainability of National Ecotourism; Preservation of National Resources

Potential solutions:

-Political Coalitions/Boards/Steering Groups (costa riquisimma!); Economic rule of law, clear borders, return financing; Cultural: Indigenous, Afro-Costa Rican, Spanish (Education, museums, interthematic promotion)

-Human rights: Education, Decent labor; historical locale propriety; expanding semi protected lands; Adjusting rates and laws

The exercise turned out to be a great way for the students to learn that there are no easy answers in international development (an area where some of us may work someday).  This message lingered over the IIC Department as the orientation came to a close with a savory meal and conversation between the students.  This in-depth orientation left the department, students and faculty, more acquainted and prepared for the 2013-2014 academic year.

IIC Peace Corps Leadership

Happy Week 3!

As the first quarter continues to roll on, a couple of first year IIC students have taken on leadership roles in the University of Denver’s Peace Corps Community (DUPCC).  Our very own David Boggs has taken on the position of DUPCC President and Jennifer Murphy is the new VP of Communications and Public Relations.  David and Jennifer are both elated to be leading the DUPCC and have provided the following words:

“Hello everyone! It's that exciting time of year again as we all settle into our routines here at DU, and I am happy to announce my recent induction as President of the DU Peace Corps Community. We also have a great new committee of VP's that will be assisting in organizing events and activities throughout campus and the Denver community. During the year, DUPCC traditionally holds fundraisers to help assist local causes and international charities. We also coordinate functions to help promote Peace Corps' 3rd Goal of "helping Americans better understand the people and cultures of other countries," as well as further relating our services abroad as volunteers. This year we're kicking off with a bang as we launch into plans to help the recovery efforts for the floods that hit the Boulder community. To learn more about us and keep up with events, visit our page at http://www.du.edu/peacecorps. For more information about the U.S. Peace Corps visit http://www.peacecorps.gov. Best wishes to everyone as we start off this quarter! We're all looking forward to a great year!”

-David Boggs

“I am excited at the proposition of working with people who have or will devote at least two years of their life to service work. I hope our group will be able to do some amazing things in the community and network with other organizations who are working on awesome projects as well. I look forward to getting the word out about what the group is involved in through the website and Facebook pages as the VP of Communications and Public Relations.”

-Jennifer Murphy

Congratulations to our IIC, Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Leaders!

IIC Summer Picnic

Hi new and continuing IICers!

Hope you've all been having a great summer. We decided to organize an informal IIC get-together before orientation and classes start in September.  SO, if you're around the Denver area and would like to meet up, we are planning on having a little afternoon picnic in Wash Park on Sunday, August 18th starting at around 3 p.m. If you would like, bring a snack and/or drink to share. Also, feel free to bring significant others and friends. The more the merrier!!

When: Sunday, August 18th at 3 p.m.
Where: Wash Park - 701 S. Franklin St. Denver, CO

I'll send out an update once it gets closer on where we can meet. Hope to see some of you there!!

End of the Year IIC Dinner

The IIC group at the International House 

Surrounded by good food and good people, the International and Intercultural Communications program met to celebrate the end of another school year at the International House on May 11. All that were in attendance were treated to a catered Italian dinner and were able to relax with fellow classmates for the night. The dinner included an annual tradition where students were given two pieces of papers - one to write something from the year that they wanted to let go and the other a wish or a hope for the coming year. Ceremoniously, each student burned the paper on which they wrote what had been weighting them down, while the other paper was folded up and put into an envelope to be opened at the end of next year. 

The dinner also celebrated this year's graduates and their accomplishments. Margie presented the graduates with a gift and asked them to share what it felt like to be graduating from DU and embarking on a new journey. Laughs, stories, and food were all shared, creating a successful dinner and great way to end the year. 

To all that were not in attendance, we wish you a luck on your finals and a happy and safe summer. We look forward to seeing all of you next year. 

To this year's IIC graduates, we wish you luck in this exciting time in your life. This new chapter has many possibilities and opportunities and we hope that you come back to visit us to share some of them!

IIC Dinner Tomorrow Night!

Just a friendly reminder that the IIC end of the year & graduation celebration dinner is tomorrow night at 6 p.m. at the I-House. Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Festival of Nations

This past Saturday the IIC program joined up with many other groups from the DU and Denver area  to come together to share and celebrate our many diverse cultures and experiences. This yearly event held in the Ritchie Center concourse allowed for a full day of activities that opened up a fun and interesting way to learn about one another. 

The IIC group set up a slideshow of pictures sent in by some of our students to showcase our own experiences, a world map that allowed for passersby to mark where they were from or favorite place, and a trivia game with questions about countries around the world. 

The event also showcased performances by many of the groups. It was a day full of singing and dancing that was enjoyed by all who came out. We'd like to give a special thanks to everyone who took interest in our booth and those who helped to run the booth during this day! 

 

Spring IIC Party Date Set

Hello IICers,

We've set a date for our last IIC get together of the year! We'll be having a dinner party at the I-House on Saturday, May 11 from 6-9 p.m. This dinner is going to be catered, so we'll be sending out an Evite soon to get a feel for how many people will be attending. Again, you are more than welcome to bring family, significant others, etc. Just be sure to let us know. Look forward to seeing you all there!

New 2013 Summer Interterm Course

MFJS 4912 – Border cultures, communication and immigration rights

 June 9-16, 2013

This class will take place in Tucson and south to the US-Mexico border area (but will not cross into Mexico) to study the role of communication/media in border cultures and immigration rights.  

Immigration issues are front and center in news headlines, but this often masks the complex realities of many immigrants’ lives, both undocumented and documented.  For those who decide to cross the border, it is an extremely dangerous and arduous journey that all too often results in arrest by the Border Patrol and deportation.  For others who are deported, they may have lived in the United States for many years, working and raising families.  The towns along the US-Mexican border are a unique cultural site of people living transient lives, moving back and forth, some voluntarily, others forced across, with the massive 20-foot border security wall looming overhead.

The course will be conducted in collaboration with Borderlinks, an organization located in Tucson, Arizona that has offered educational programs along the US-Mexican border region for the past 25 years.  Students will also meet twice during Spring Quarter 2013 to discuss assigned readings and prepare for the trip.  They will complete short papers and journal assignments, as well as a final project due after the trip is over.

Activities on the trip include walking the migrant trail in the harsh Sonoma Desert and talking to human rights groups active in the area; a visit to the Tucson courts where the controversial “Operation Streamline” policy is in effect, moving 60-80 immigrants in shackles through the legal process everyday; and discussions with immigrant defense attorneys and officials.  We will also cross the border into Nagales, Mexico to visit a shelter with recently deported immigrants, and HOGAR (House of Hope and Peace) which provides meals and services for children of maquila workers and immigrants in the area, as well as visit a maquila (factory in the free trade zone area).

The course will be co-taught by Margie Thompson, Associate Professor in Media, Film & Journalism Studies and Director of the MA in International & Intercultural Communication, who has worked as a journalist in Central America for the past 16 years, along with María Suárez Toro, a longtime journalist and feminist human rights activist and educator from Puerto Rico/Costa Rica.

The course is offered for 4 credits, but students may sign up for an additional credit as independent study. 

(June 9 & 16 are travel days; June 9-15 – Borderlinks program – 6 1/2 days)

Scholarships are available.

To apply for this course contact Diana Carvalho at: diana.carvalho@du.edu in the Special Programs Office.

For more information, contact: Margie Thompson at: mthompso@du.edu; or 303-871-3947.

Student Spotlight of the Week

Eki Isabel Lau

Hometown: Hong Kong

College: University of Central Missouri, BS
              University of Denver, MA

Undergraduate Focus: Public Relations and Corporate Communications

How did you become interested in the IIC program?

I found the IIC program at DU during my search for grad programs. The IIC program is a very unique program that offers a variety of skill training, which perfectly fulfills my goals and interest areas.

Name some specific areas within IIC you’re interested in:
Multicultural programs in higher education, international nonprofits, strategic planning and intercultural training

Favorite place you’ve traveled to so far: Hokkaido, Japan. But I am also in love with Denver after being here for a quarter now. 

Dream job: I don’t have a specific position in mind yet, but my dream job will be something that energizes me everyday and keep me moving forward.

Don't Miss These Events!

Welcome back IICers! Hope you all had a great spring break. There are several upcoming events next week that may be of interest to you. Please check out the following list and links and be sure to stay updated for more events through our calendar below!

April 3  

Sam Freedman, New York Times columnist will speak 2-3:50 p.m.

(College of Education)

http://www.du.edu/ahss/mfjs/news_events/samfreedman.html

April 3

Environmental journalist Bill McKibben will accept the Anvil of Freedom Award and give the Estlow Lecture at 6:30 p.m.

http://www.du.edu/ahss/mfjs/news_events/mckibben2013.html

April 3-4

Journalism that Matters conference at DU

http://journalismthatmatters.org/newjournalism/

April 4
Special Screening of Girl Rising
Trailer 
Click for more information and tickets

Is Peace Corps the Path for You?

What would you do if you found yourself in a country, completely unlike your own, where everyday everything you have known to be true was being questioned? 

Serving in the Peace Corps is not for the faint of heart. It is a journey that forces you outside of your comfort zone and into situations that you never thought you'd be in, let alone be able to handle, in a million years. Last week in Margie's intro to Intercultural Communications class, students were led by a panel of Return Peace Corps Volunteers, on just what it could mean to enlist.

The panel was able to bring prospective from all different parts of the world. From Tanzania to Albania, to the Philippines and Indonesia. The class heard of stories and experiences, hardships and successes, but regardless, it seemed unanimous that Peace Corps would be life-altering. The Peace Corps, which has been around for 50 years, brings its members into countries where they are left to deal with different cultural implications everyday. From remembering to shake everyone's hand when you leave a room, to how to answer certain questions appropriately, to adapting to washing your laundry by hand and living without toilet paper. You begin to adjust to a new normal, because you have to. One of the most important points that the panel highlighted was that there may be times when you feel frustrated with how much you are actually contributing. Maybe there are days when you don't feel like you will ever make a difference. However, they noted that things may not change overnight, but you've got the ball rolling, began the conversation. 

"When you are in the Peace Corps you are representing America." It is essential to remember this during your service as brought forth by the panel, because you may be the only contact that the family or community you are with has with Americans. What you do reflects on the entire country. 

At the start of the class, the panel posed the question, "how many have you considered the Peace Corps?" After a very intriguing two hours, it's hard to say if the group convinced those on the edge to enlist or made them glad to be sitting in class that night. For  there is a lot to consider. Could you adapt to bucket baths, stray cats, and having the weight of your home country on your shoulders? These RPCVs seem to think so. 

The Return Peace Corps Panel Presents in MFJS 4912